The Hindu : Front Page : 27 more districts in U.P. declared drought-hit

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Monday, Jul 27, 2009
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27 more districts in U.P. declared drought-hit

Atiq Khan

Mayawati seeks Rs.80,000-crore package for Bundelkhand, Purvanchal

Centre asked to play a proactive role
These districts received less than 40% rainfall; 75 % less sowing

LUCKNOW: Twenty-seven more districts in Uttar Pradesh were declared drought-affected on Sunday after a fresh review by the State government.

This brings the total number of drought-hit districts in the State to 47. Twenty districts were declared drought-affected on Saturday.

These districts received less than 40 per cent rainfall and the sowing was less than 75 per cent. The State has a total of 70 districts.

Big schemes

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Chief Minister Mayawati reiterated the demand for the Rs.80,000-crore special incentive package for Bundelkhand and Purvanchal (eastern U.P.) regions.

In another letter to Dr. Singh, the Chief Minster urged the Centre to approve a special package for Bundelkhand based on the recommendations of the Samra Committee. She also demanded allocation of big Central schemes for the backward region.

Recovery suspended

Chief Secretary Atul Kumar Gupta told journalists here that following the decision to declare 27 additional districts drought-affected, recovery of land revenue and irrigation charges from farmers had been suspended till March 2010.

He said directives had been issued against using coercive measures for recovery of bank loans and power dues from farmers in these districts. Mr. Gupta said a close watch was being kept on the situation.

Referring to the letters written by Ms. Mayawati to the Prime Minister, Mr. Gupta said the Centre had been asked to play a proactive role in the development of the State.

Manmohan informed

The Chief Minister has apprised Dr. Singh Prime Minister that the Samra Committee, constituted by the Planning Commission for studying the drought situation in Bundelkhand in 2007-08, had approved a separate package of Rs.3,866 crore, including Rs.1,500 crore for water management and Rs.1,050 crore for agriculture purposes. She regretted that the package had not been approved by the Central government.

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